Article handling apparatus



March 11, 1941- R. H. GooDELl. Erm.

ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed March 4, 1939 /NVENTOR I?.H. GOODE/.L C.W. [POSER ATTORNEY JNIMHHIIVIMH:

Patented Mar. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTICLE HAN DLTNG APPARATUS poration of New York Application March 4, 1939, Serial No. 259,926

11 Claims.

This invention relates to an article handling apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for successively positioning cards for observation.

In organizations where records are made of data taken from cards such as employees time cards or work production cards, it has been found, rst, that considerable time is required in handling the cards, for example, in removing the card from the stack as the desired data is taken therefrom, second, that reading the data on the cards when in a stacked horizontal position causes fatigue and optical strain to the operator, and, third, the diculty in reading the data on `the cards so positioned frequently causes mistakes in the records.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, emcient and practical apparatus for 4successively positioning cards for observation.

With this and other objects in view, the invention comprises a receptacle for -a plurality of cards supported to position the first card for clear observation, a set of rollers being driven beneath the first card to rapidly remove 4it and '25 bring into View the second card when an ejecting '35 Fig. 2 is a front elevational View of the apparatus, portions thereof being broken away, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing, it Will be observed that the apparatus is composed of four main portions, namely a container I0 for a plurality of cards II, a base IZ for housing card ejecting rollers and their driving means, a compartment I3 for housing electrically actuated ejecting means, `and a receptacle I4 removably attached to the ibase portion I2 for receiving the cards when ejected.

'I'he apparatus in general is formed of any suitable material, namely sheet metal, the base portion I2 being of the contour shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and mounted upon any suitable support such as a recording machine indicated at I5 in Fig. 1. The term recording machine is intended to include any machine which may be used in recording data. The container I0 is mounted upon the base I2 and includes side walls I8 and I9, an apertured -front wall 2B, and an angularly positioned bottom portion 2I. The bottom portion 2I is supported at each side by angle members 22 fixed to the` side walls I8 and I9. The top and the rear of the container II) are opened for the free insertion of a plurality of cards II therein. The angular position of the bottom portion 2| determines the 4positions, of the 10 cards in the receptacle .and renders effective a backing element 25 disposed at the back of the cards and provided with transversely projecting leg portions l26 to maintain a vertical position thereof for causing forward movement of all the remaining cards as each card is ejected. Therefore, lat all times there is a card positioned adjacent the front Wall until, of course, the final or last card has been ejected. The front wall 20, as will be observed lby viewing Fig. 2, is cut away, excepting a small portion `adjacent its edges, so as ,to support ,the cards against further forward movement yet expose for clear observation `substantially all the card disposed in engagement 25 therewith, at least all of that portion of the'card bearing data. As will =be observed by viewing Figs. l and 3, all of the cards in the group are supported by the bottom portion 2l of the receptacle excepting they first card, this card being 30 held in place by the force of the element and the remaining cards, forcing it against the front wall 20. Therefore, the front card, although frictionally held in place, is free to be moved downwardly through an elongate passageway 21 35 (Fig. 3). The ejecting means is composed ofntwo units, one electrically actuated to cause a quick downward movement of the first card to feed the lower `end of the card between ejecting rollers, which rollers complete the ejecting of the card.' Attention isv rst directed 'to the electrically operated means for starting the movement of the card.` This means consists of asolenoid 'having -i-ts core ill operatively connected to an actuating .45 lever 32 through a slide block 33 and normally urged-downwardly by a helical compression spring 34 disposed concentric therewith. The solenoid 30 is included in an electrical circuit indicated generally at 35, which circuit also includes a switch 3l. The switch 31 may be of any suitable type actuated in any desired manner. One manner of actuating the switch 31 may be through the actuation of a `key 38 of the recording machine I5. This` key may be any one of thekeys A smaller bracket 42 mounted upon the bracket 40 serves to connect the solenoid -to the main lbracket, while a pivot 43 serves to connectthe actuating lever 32 to the main bracket. Elongate guide blocks 44 are disposed in aligned spaced positions on the bracket 40. 1A. retainingplate 45.

is secured with each guide mock to the bracket by the aid of screws or the like. A reciprocating element 46 is angular in cross section, has one l portion extending between the bracket lIll) and the retaining plates 45 and reciprocable relative thereto by `the aid of elongate apertures 41, longer than the guide blocks, and positioned therearound. Another portion of the element 46 extends a short distance in front of the front wall 20 where it supports a yoke 48 of the contour illustrated in Fig. 2. An apertured bearing member 49 carried by the yoke 48 receives a reduced end 50 of the' actuating lever 32, the aperture in the bearing 49 having rounded surfaces to permita rocking movement therein of the reduced end. Thus the actuating lever -32 is operatively connected to the reciprocating element 46. The reciprocating element 46 has an integral portion S53 adjacent the'upper end thereof which extends beyond the vertical center line of the front wall 20 for supporting a card engaging element 54. A spacing member 55 positioned between the integral portion 53 of the reciprocating element 46 and the card engaging element 54 positions the element 54 adjacent the inner surface of the front wall 20, while the portion 53 is positioned ad. jacent the outer surface of the front wall. The element 54 is formed of very thin sheet metal, thinner than can be clearly shown in the drawing yet durable for the vpurpose intended. By viewing Fig. 2,A it will be observed that the element 54 extends slightly less than the full width of the cards I I and at each end thereof portions 51 and 58 are provided with double bends closely compressed to form card engaging surfaces 59 and l6I), respectively. The cards II are presumed to be exact in all dimensions, yet it has been found that there sometimes exists a slight variation.

'This variation, although it is within a few thousl andths of an inch, might be instrumental in aiecting perfect operation of an ejecting means unless'means is provided to `allow for such variation vin dimensions. Knowing the existence of these slight variations in the dimensions of the cards, the card engaging surfaces 59 and 60 are disposed in different planes, the surface 59 being of three, one group being indicated at 65 mounted upona shaft 66 and another group indicated at 61 mounted upon a shaft 68. The rollers are formed of any suitable material, such as soft rublber, to provide a positive gripping engagement with the cards and cause a rapid removal of the cards without damaging them. The central rollers of each set are mounted upon metallic hubs 69,` which are xed to their frespective shafts, while the outer rollers of each set'aremounted upon hubs of the type illustrated at 10 carrying set screws 1I to enable adjustment of the outer rollers upon their respective shafts. The shafts 66l and 68 have their ends supported in bearings 12, the shaft 68 being what may be termed as an idler "shaft, it being mounted for free rotation,

while the shaft 66 is operatively connected through a belt 14 -to a driving means such as a motor 15. .The motor 15 is suspended from a bracket 16 and is included in :an electrical circuit (not shown) to cause operation of the motor continuously while the data from the cards is be- 'ing recorded or intermittently if desired.

Beneath the rollers 65 and 61 is positioned an inlet opening 86 of a card guide or chute 8|,the exit end of which is positioned at an opening in -the rear wall of the base I2 adjacent the receptacle I4, wherein the cards I I are stacked as they are ejected.

Referring now `to the operation of the apparatus, letv it be assumed that the apparatus is being used in conjunction with a recording machine wherein the operator observes the first card,

selects'the desired data therefrom, records this against the force of the spring 3,4, rocking the lever 32 about its pivot43, causing a rapid down- -ward movement of the reciprocating element 46 a predetermined distance. The reciprocating element 46, being guided by the blocks 44 between the :bracket 46 and the blocks 45, is moved downwardly through the actuation of the lever 32 a distance-suicient to move the first card, through the engagement of the surface 59 of the portion 51 of the element 54 with the upper surface thereof, to the position shown in Fig. 3, Where the card is moved a suitable distance between the rollers 65 and 61. For the purpose of illustration, let it Ibe assumed thatI the motor 15 is operating continuously to continuously rotate the roller 65; therefore, as soon as the .card is fed to the rollers its rapid downward movement will be continued and directed through the chute BI and into the receptacle I4. In following the movement of the card from its original position adjacent the front wall 20, through the chute8l and into there'-v ceptacle' I4, it will be observed that the card is disposed face down in the receptacle and in this manner the cards will be stacked in the vsame position they were in when first disposed'in the container I6'. Referring back to the actuation of lever 3.2, attention is directed to the fact that the solenoid need be energized only a short length of time, that usually employed in pressingv a key, such as the key 38, and releasing the key. a reasonable time thereafter. The solenoid is rapid in its action, causing a rapid movement of the first card downwardly, which movement is continued by the rollers so that the first card is removed so quickly the removal is Ahardly notice-,- able. The releasing of the key 36 deenergizes the solenoid 30 by opening the'switch 31, rendering eiective the spring 34 to return the lever to its normal position shown in Fig. l.

With the apparatus disposed upon the recording machine or at a convenient position where the first card may be readily observed by the operator ci the recording machine, each card, as it is moved into position, may be readily observed by the operator, permitting the operator to assume a comfortable position without causing fatigue or eye strain. Furthermore, all the operator is required to do is to feed stacks of cards to the apparatus, as each card may foe removed from sight and stacked in proper order as the data is secured therefrom and immediately upon the removal of one card the neXt card is disposed in place. With such an apparatus to successively bring the cards into view it is possible for the operator to concentrate entirely on'the recording machine and maintain maximum speed in rhythmic sequence uninterrupted by thoughts of care for the cards.

The embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is illustrative only and may be widely modified and departed from in many ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as pointed out in and limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An article handling apparatus comprising means to support a plurality of cards of predetermined dimensions, an element having a projection positioned to engage the cards when of the predetermined dimensions and a projection positioned to engage cards varying from the predetermined dimensions, and means to actuate the element to eject the cards.

2. An article handling apparatus comprising means to support a plurality of cards for clear observation of a card in first position, ejecting rollers disposed adjacent the rst position card for removing the said card when fed thereto, an arm movable to feed the said card between the rollers, and electrically operated means to cause movement of the arm.

3. An article handling apparatus comprising means to support a plurality of cards for clear observation of a card in first position, ejecting rollers disposed adjacent the rst position card for removing the said card when fed thereto, a reoiprocable element disposed adjacent the said rst card, an arm operatively connected to the element, and electrically operated means to actuate the arm to move the element to feed the said card to the rollers.

4. An article handling apparatus comprising means to support a plurality of cards for clear observation of a card in rst position, ejecting rollers disposed adjacent the rst position card for removing the said card when fed thereto, a reciprocable element disposed adjacent the said rst card, an arm o-peratively connected to the element, electrically operated means to actuate the arm to move the element to feed the said card to the rollers, and means to move the arm to posititon the element for feeding the next card.

5. The combination with a machine for recording data taken from cards, the machine having a card ejecting key, of means to support a plurality of cards for clear observation of a card in first position, ejecting rolle-rs disposed adjacent the rst position card for removing the said card when fed thereto, and electrically operated means controlled by the said key to feed the said card tov the rollers.

6. The combination with a machine for recording data taken from cards, the machine having a card ejecting key, of means to support a plurality of cards for clear observation of a card in rst position, ejecting rollers disposed adjacent the rst position card for removing the said card when fed thereto, an element movable to feed the said card between the rollers, and electrically operated means controlled by the said key to cause movement of the element.

7. The combination with a machine for recording data taken from cards, the machine having a card ejecting key, of means to support a plurality of cards for clear observation of a card in first position, ejecting rollers disposed adjacent the iirst position card for removing the said card when fed thereto, an arm movable to feed the said card between the rollers, and electrically operated means controlled by the said key to cause movement of the said arm.

8. The combination with a machine for recording data taken from cards, the machine having a card ejecting key, of means to support a plurality of cards for clear observation of a card in rst position, ejecting rollers disposed adjacent the first position card for removing the said card when fed thereto, and electrically operated means controlled by the said key to feed the said card to the rollers.

9. The combination with a machine for recording data taken from cards, the machine having a key, of means to support a plurality of cards for clear observation of a card in rst position, an actuable ejecting member disposed adjacent the rst position card for removing the said card when actuated, an electrical circuit controlled by the key, and an electrical unit in the circuit to actuate the ejecting member when the said key is moved to close the circuit.

10. The combination with a machine for recording data taken from cards, the machine having a key, of means to support a plurality of cards for clear observation of a card in rst position, an actuable ejecting member disposed adjacent the first position card for removing the said card when actuated, an electrical circuit controlled by the key, an electrical unit in the circuit operable when the circuit is closed by the said key, and means actuated by the operation of the electrical unit to actuate the ejecting member.

l1. The combination with a machine for recording data taken from cards, the machine having a key, of means to support a plurality of cards for clear observation of a card in first position, an actuable ejecting member disposed adjacent the rst position card for removing the said card when actuated, an electrical circuit controlled by the key, an electrical unit in the circuit operable when the circuit is closed by the said key, and an arm operatively connecting the electrical unit to the ejecting member to cause actuation of the ejecting member when the unit is operated.

ROBERT H. GOODELL. CARL W. ROSER. 

